How to disable directory listing in Apache

Directory listing lets anyone browse filenames and subdirectories when a request lands on a folder that does not contain a default index file. That can expose backups, exported data, temporary uploads, or source trees that were never meant to be reachable from the web.

Apache serves directory requests in two stages. mod_dir checks whether the requested directory contains a configured DirectoryIndex file such as index.html or index.php, and if no index file exists a generated listing appears only when the effective Options set still includes Indexes and mod_autoindex is loaded.

Examples below use the Debian and Ubuntu layout with /etc/apache2/, apache2ctl, and the apache2 service. The normal hardening path is to remove Indexes in server configuration for the specific directory or vhost, while disabling mod_autoindex is a server-wide choice and .htaccess should be kept for cases where you cannot edit the main Apache config directly.

Adding more filenames to DirectoryIndex can reduce accidental exposure, but it does not disable listing when a directory still has no matching index file and Indexes remains enabled.

Methods to disable directory listing in Apache:

Disable mod_autoindex
Configure Directory's Options directive
Configure .htaccess

Prefer Options -Indexes in a VirtualHost, <Directory> block, or dedicated conf snippet. Disable mod_autoindex only when no site on the server should ever expose an auto-generated directory index.

Steps to disable directory listing in Apache:

Disable Apache directory listing by disabling autoindex module

Disabling mod_autoindex removes Apache's generated directory index handler for the whole server. Use this method when directory browsing is unwanted everywhere, not when one site still needs auto-generated listings.

Open a terminal with an account that can use sudo.
Disable mod_autoindex.
```
$ sudo a2dismod --force autoindex
Module autoindex disabled.
To activate the new configuration, you need to run:
  service apache2 restart
```
On platforms without a2dismod, disable the autoindex_module load line in the active Apache module configuration, then restart the service.

Related: How to enable or disable Apache modules
Validate the Apache configuration syntax.
```
$ sudo apache2ctl configtest
Syntax OK
```
The common AH00558 warning about a missing global ServerName is not a syntax failure.

Related: How to test Apache configuration
Restart Apache so the module is unloaded.
```
$ sudo systemctl restart apache2
```
On current Debian and Ubuntu systems, systemctl restart apache2 is the normal equivalent of the service apache2 restart hint printed by a2dismod.

Related: How to manage the Apache web server service
Request a directory URL that has no default index file.
```
$ curl -I -sS -H 'Host: host.example.net' http://127.0.0.1/downloads/
HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found
Date: Wed, 08 Apr 2026 04:42:39 GMT
Server: Apache/2.4.58 (Ubuntu)
Content-Type: text/html; charset=iso-8859-1
```
Use a path that genuinely has no DirectoryIndex match such as index.html or index.php. In current Debian or Ubuntu package verification, removing mod_autoindex changed the same directory request from a 200 OK listing to 404 Not Found.

Disable Apache directory listing via Directory's Options directive

Removing Indexes from the effective Options set is the normal per-site hardening approach. It blocks directory browsing for the chosen path while leaving mod_autoindex available for other sites or directories that still need it.

Open the relevant VirtualHost or Apache configuration file.
```
$ sudo vi /etc/apache2/sites-available/000-default.conf
```
The same change can live in a vhost file or a dedicated include under /etc/apache2/conf-available/ when you prefer to keep hardening rules separate from the site definition.

Related: Location for Apache VirtualHost configuration files

Locate or add the <Directory> block for the directory that must stop listing files.

<Directory /var/www/html/downloads>
    Options Indexes FollowSymLinks
</Directory>

Remove Indexes from the effective Options set.
```
<Directory /var/www/html/downloads>
    Options -Indexes
</Directory>
```
Because every option in the second example uses a + or - modifier, Apache merges it with the inherited options instead of replacing the entire set. If the block already uses relative syntax, add -Indexes there instead of rewriting unrelated flags.
Validate the Apache configuration syntax.
```
$ sudo apache2ctl configtest
Syntax OK
```
Related: How to test Apache configuration
Reload Apache to apply the configuration change.
```
$ sudo systemctl reload apache2
```
Related: How to manage the Apache web server service
Request the directory URL again and confirm that the listing is now blocked.
```
$ curl -I -sS -H 'Host: host.example.net' http://127.0.0.1/downloads/
HTTP/1.1 403 Forbidden
Date: Wed, 08 Apr 2026 04:42:39 GMT
Server: Apache/2.4.58 (Ubuntu)
Content-Type: text/html; charset=iso-8859-1
```
A 403 Forbidden response is the normal result when Apache reaches the directory but is no longer allowed to generate an index. If you still see 200 OK, the request is likely hitting a different vhost or a different <Directory> rule than the one you edited.

Disable Apache directory listing using .htaccess

A .htaccess file is useful when shared hosting or delegated site management prevents you from editing the main Apache configuration directly. It works only when the matching <Directory> block allows Options overrides, and it adds per-request filesystem checks that are better avoided on servers where you can edit the vhost normally.

Edit the matching <Directory> block so the target path allows Options overrides.
```
<Directory /var/www/html/downloads>
    AllowOverride Options
</Directory>
```
If AllowOverride None remains in effect, Apache ignores the directory's .htaccess file completely and the directory listing stays available.

Keep the override scoped to the real site path rather than the global <Directory "/"> block.

Related: Location for Apache VirtualHost configuration files
Validate the Apache configuration syntax and reload the service if you changed AllowOverride.
```
$ sudo apache2ctl configtest
Syntax OK

$ sudo systemctl reload apache2
```
Related: How to test Apache configuration

Related: How to manage the Apache web server service
Create or edit the target directory's .htaccess file.
```
$ sudo vi /var/www/html/downloads/.htaccess
```
Disable directory indexing in the .htaccess file.
```
Options -Indexes
```
Apache 2.4 reads this file on the next request once AllowOverride Options is active, so a second reload is not required for the .htaccess file itself.

Use the relative form -Indexes. Mixing + or - modifiers with plain Options values is invalid syntax.
Request the directory URL and confirm the listing is blocked.
```
$ curl -I -sS -H 'Host: host.example.net' http://127.0.0.1/downloads/
HTTP/1.1 403 Forbidden
Date: Wed, 08 Apr 2026 04:42:39 GMT
Server: Apache/2.4.58 (Ubuntu)
Content-Type: text/html; charset=iso-8859-1
```
If the request still returns 200 OK with a directory index, the usual cause is that the wrong path was matched in <Directory> or AllowOverride is still effectively None higher in the config tree.

Author: Mohd Shakir Zakaria
Mohd Shakir Zakaria is a cloud architect with deep roots in software development and open-source advocacy. Certified in AWS, Red Hat, VMware, ITIL, and Linux, he specializes in designing and managing robust cloud and on-premises infrastructures.